20182018 Tatistical Summary 2018 Contents

THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CHURCH IN WALES

Membership and Finance 20182018 TATISTICAL SUMMARY 2018 CONTENTS

Introduction ...... 01 Pentecost Joint Service in Anglesey ...... 02 Uniformed Organisations @ St Thomas ...... 03 Pioneering in Llanidloes ...... 04 Shoppers Communion in Ammanford ...... 05 Café Church @ Welsh St Donats ...... 06 New Curate in Llay ...... 07

Statistical Summary 2018 Membership ...... 08 Finance ...... 09 How is the Church in Wales funded? ...... 11

Further copies of this report may be obtained from: The Representative Body of the Church in Wales, 2 Callaghan Square, Cardiﬀ . CF10 5BT Telephone: 029 2034 8200 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.churchinwales.org.uk Charity Registration Number 1142813

Printed on 100% recycled paper

Front cover photographs:

top left: St Michael’s Church, Ammanford.

bottom left: Children’s outreach club, St Martin’s Church, Llay.

middle: Café Church, St Dunwyd’s Church, Welsh St Donat’s.

top right: Anglesey Synod joint service.

middle right: The After School’s Club, Llandiloes church hall.

bottom right: Carol service with real donkeys at St Thomas’ Church. The Governing Body of the Church in Wales | Membership and Finance 2018

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the 2018 Membership and It is also possible to drill down into the Finances report for the Church in Wales. attendance categories to fi nd grounds for hope. For example: This year, we are excited to be able to share stories from across Wales to complement the ● Sunday attendance increased between usual digest of statistics. For some years we had 2017 and 2018 in a number of important become aware that the statistical report, whilst fi elds: under 7s; 7 to 10s; 11 to 17s; a useful indicator of the state of the Church year and families. by year, was an inadequate guide to the richness of church life across the province. We hope that ● In addition, the number attending “non- this year’s new format report goes some way to traditional acts of worship” increased from redressing that imbalance. 21,984 per month in 2017 to 41,155 per month in 2018. We will be asking new In 2018, the Governing Body committed the questions in next year’s membership return Church in Wales to evangelism and growth as to gather more detailed information on what its twin priorities. The parish data for 2018, is happening on the ground in this key area. which may be found from page 8 on, illustrates the urgency of that imperative. In summary, the But the greatest reason to be cheerful lies in fi gures show: the stories we have included in this year’s report, which have been drawn together from a wider ● Continued decline in most measures of research project undertaken by St Padarn’s participation in parish life (Information table 1, Institute. These case studies represent just a page 8); small cross-section of the wide range of exciting new initiatives taking shape across Wales, but ● Unusual and unexplained variations from provide examples of what can be achieved by the 2017 fi gures in some fi elds (-19% in making imaginative but achievable changes adult weekday attendance, +30% in the within your church community, whatever the size, number of confi rmations); resources or context of your parish. We hope they prompt you to consider what might be achieved ● Linked to the fall in attendances, a decline in your own parish or ministry area, and inspire in total giving across a range of categories you to action. A full report on these studies, with (Information table 2, page 9), despite an analysis of the lessons which might be drawn from increase in average giving per attender each experience, will be published by St Padarn’s (Information fi gure 3, page 10). in due course, so do please look out for that.

● That the fall in parish income is matched Finally, we must thank clergy, parish offi cers by continued decline in expenditure, as and diocesan staff for ensuring that such a high parishes cut their cloth to suit their purse. proportion of parish returns are completed and submitted on time each year. We recognise that It must be remembered that these fi gures this exercise places additional administrative are provincial totals, and so mask the variations strain on already busy people, and we continue (positive and negative) among our ministry and to work on means to make that task easier via mission areas, and parishes. the online portal. But the data you provide is invaluable in ensuring that our planning for the Church’s future – in terms of ministry, structures and fi nance – is based on solid evidence. We hope to introduce new facilities in the coming year to help parishes and ministry areas to make better use of your data too.

1 Membership and Finance 2018 | The Governing Body of the Church in Wales

PENTECOST JOINT SERVICE IN ANGLESEY

June 9th, as the sun shines down on The Archdeacon of Anglesey preaches, Anglesey Showground, car after car arrives. masterfully weaving Welsh and English together, We are greeted by a lady in a fl uorescent coat and the resounding message: who informs us that she can’t quite remember putting her name down for car park duty, but On the day of Pentecost less people she is enjoying it nonetheless. Inside what than are here today gathered together is often used as the cattle shed there are and prayed. And the Spirit came. And already hundreds of people gathering. This is thousands became followers of Jesus that the Anglesey Synod joint service. day. What would it look like this morning if we were fi lled with the Spirit and ventured The service is introduced, and we are back out across Anglesey? This is not a reminded that this is Pentecost where the time to be afraid or anxious this is a time to disciples were “all together in one place.” It is be together and to allow the Holy Spirit to the backdrop for this joint gathering. Further renew and revive His Church. instructions are given on safety, the way we will take communion and where and when it will be Communion soon follows and after taking possible to come forward for prayer ministry. All bread and wine many gather to be prayed for delivered in Welsh and English. And then well to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. To over 300 people stand to sing the fi rst hymn, be fi lled. “Emyn Agoriadol” Next week these people may again worship Liturgically this is a traditional bi-lingual in much smaller congregations, but for now service, but it is also intergenerational. they have a glorious reminder that the Anglican Children mull around reasonably, at the Church is very much alive on Anglesey. children’s area they are making fl ames of fi re headbands, or fl ame streamers, sometimes singing, sometimes sat with parents. But no segregation here, children and young people are not sent out to separate groups. This is not just about all people coming together in one place, it is also about all ages.

Confession and absolution are followed by another song, “Bless the Lord oh my soul.” The number of Welsh voices together are lifting the roof of this cattle shed. The band comprises guitars, keyboard, drums, violin and trumpet. Then we sing “Shout to the Lord all the Earth let us sing.” The trumpet resounding triumphant on this celebration of Pentecost when God poured out his Spirit on all. All ages, all walks of life, all socio-economic groupings, Welsh and English. I’m not sure all the earth can hear, but certainly all who are attending the car boot sale nearby can hear. I know because during the reading of the gospel several people wander in from the car boot and ask can they join the service. Evangelism made easy!

2 The Governing Body of the Church in Wales | Membership and Finance 2018

UNIFORMED ORGANISATIONS @ ST THOMAS

It’s an early December evening. It’s a cold and Some fi nal announcements: ”Thursday evening wet evening in one of the less affl uent areas we will have our Christingle service that you can of Swansea. It’s close to the nearby shop, and all come to and next Sunday we have our carol half a dozen teenagers hang around outside. service with real donkeys.” St Stephens church is in the middle of this busy street. Vicar and wife (both ordained) There is a fi nal prayer, where the vicar gives have been running this ministry for the past thanks for all the children, their families and for fi ve years. The church is decorated with God’s blessing on all their Christmas activity. And Christmas lights and a Christmas tree. To the before we can go home there are some birthdays joy of all present, the heating is making the that need to be celebrated, in Welsh and English church warm and cosy. There are chairs in of course. And after collecting their wonderfully the main body of the church occupied by 30 decorated cards they make their way out and St children or so, they are aged 5 to 8. This is Stephens is quiet again. the younger group. This is Boy’s Brigade, well offi cially Boys The session begins with an Ice Breaker. They Brigade & Girls Association. It runs here every have to match their cards with someone else. Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm with various age After that they are sent to the back of the church groups. But Boys Brigade & Girl’s Association where they will be making Christmas cards. Glue, are just the tip of the community engagement card, glitter, colouring pens are in abundance. focused on a large population in a small area. The vicar is keen to state that these children The vicar can’t walk through the local shops know that God loves them. For the last year without people shaking his hand or children he has taught them to look in the mirror before insisting on giving him a high fi ve. Through the they go to bed and say the words, “I am loved.” last fi ve years the Sunday congregation has They would normally move to a devotional time grown from 11 to 40. But in a typical week this at this point, but tonight they will talk about church now presents the love of God to over Christmas and specifi cally what they will get for 1200 people. That fi gure rises even further for Christmas. “A poop emoji!”, “A slush maker”, “a special events such as Christmas, Easter and dolls bunk bed”, there is lots of laughter and lots summer holidays. of discussion. This is exciting. But what would happen But alongside the laughter there are some across Wales if all our Churches did this? challenges. As I sit at the back I see a parent who after dropping her child off has asked for food because she doesn’t have anything at home. She asks for toilet roll too, that is a luxury they cannot aff ord. One of the girls attending has a sister aged 14 who recently tried to commit suicide. These are the challenges faced by this team. But this warm building is their haven. Peace in what is a chaotic world. A parent has come early to collect his daughter, but doesn’t leave quickly. He is made to feel welcome and looks comfortable in the building.

When the laughter dies down, the group is sent to the back of the church and they are soon decorating cookies. Christmas carols ﬁ ll the air, the children are clearly enjoying themselves.

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PIONEERING IN LLANIDLOES

3:30pm on a Friday evening in a church hall “Raise your hands if you can tell me what in Llanidloes. Over 20 children come straight happened last week.”, asks one of the leaders. from school for After School activities – making structures out of wood, colouring “There was a special ﬁ re that was to do with in and cutting out, all accompanied with the Holy Spirit who helped Jesus’ disciples to talk exciting sounds. about God.”, volunteers one of the children.

The fi sh they cut out at the start had the words ICTHUS and the signifi cance of that word is explained at this point. And then the lights are switched off and it is time for the next instalment. We all sit and watch the adventures of the Chip Shop Church where we hear the story of Peter and John healing the man at the gate beautiful. And fi nally we gather together as the story is told again from the Bible this time. The children listen so well. They are asked how the man felt before he encountered God’s power and what he felt like afterwards. They are then asked if they know anyone who needs to There are some signifi cant pioneer ventures encounter God. in Llanidloes: Sanctuary – a new missional Lots of ideas community; a chaplaincy ministry to the farmers are given, and market; the Happiness Lab; and a whole range the children sit of wonderfully creative initiatives. But the focus in a circle and here is on Friday night. The After School’s Club prayers are illustrates the importance of working with what said. Several already exists, alongside the creation of a whole of the children host of new things. Eight years ago, a few pray out loud parents decided to set up holiday club for their for people they own children, the presence of a pioneer priest know. By 5:15pm all is done and parents collect a few years later gave the impetus to make the their children, an opportunity to give out invites activity into a weekly event. to other activities and to engage in conversation with parents/guardians. Parents are clearly At 4pm snacks are served and the noise relaxed and although there are few church of happy conversations fi lls the room. Mainly attendees, they are all comfortable. This is the around the subject of who won the Eisteddfod fi rst connection with church for many of these in school today – it seems it was the Blue Team. parents. But the journey to Jesus has to start Some of the older members of the group take somewhere. their food downstairs in the basement. That is their special privilege as a gentle way of forming At the same time the After Schools Club was a new group to make the join between youth taking place, on the other side of the high street, group and children’s group. Transitions are near the Town Hall, above the church offi ce a always important, and it is encouraging to see youth group is taking place. It’s a traditional youth the transitional process in development. Thirty group, ice breakers, bible study, this week was the minutes later it’s time to gather on the fl oor for a last part of “God’s amazing love” – a life of love, brief recap on last week’s instalment of “Rocky’s 1 Corinthians 13 and Matthew 5. 43-48. But all in Plaice” a Scripture Union video resource. an atmosphere of fun – there are drama skits. And

4 The Governing Body of the Church in Wales | Membership and Finance 2018

the evening ends with a game of Quirk! A rather And it’s that time of year, so the evening ends unusual but clearly well enjoyed card game. with the unplanned but predictable discussion on the Wales v Ireland match from last week. At the end the leader mentions camping out over Easter – an Easter Eve Vigil. And later in the There are some initiatives in Llanidloes that year they will be attending a Young Life camp. probably couldn’t have happened without a At the end all are encouraged to write in an pioneer priest – that’s why the Church in Wales envelope themes they would like to discuss in the is committed to this ministry. But the Friday night future. This is quite a small group – eight young activities are activities that every church could people – two of the eight are regular church run. They are making a signifi cant diff erence in attendees. The leader points out that most of the lives of the children and young people who the group started off with a clear statement that attend, and of course the lives of their parents, there is no God and now have moved quite this is discipleship. signifi cantly to exploring what God is like.

SHOPPERS COMMUNION IN AMMANFORD

It’s a cold and wet Wednesday morning. to make a day of it. Communion in the morning, The sky over Ammanford is grey but weather a time to catch up with friends after the service, is not dampening the spirits of the 30 people coﬀ ee together at the ‘Cwtch’ after that and then who have gathered at St Michael’s, just oﬀ on to the pensioners afternoon in the local pub. the High street. This is midweek communion. There is nothing overly innovative here. The The average age is 60+. They are not looking strength is in recognising the community and for a contemporary service. A simple 2004 accommodating it. Eucharistic Service with no real sung element.

It would be tempting to say that it has been kept going through the interregnum by one of the Licensed Lay Ministers. But that would not accurately communicate the role the LLM and congregation took during the interregnum. The service developed in the interregnum and grew throughout the interregnum, kicking into touch the idea that churches stall while waiting for their next vicar.

Half this congregation can’t get to Sunday services. There’s no public transport. So Wednesday is their place and time for corporate worship. A traditional, midweek service that really doesn’t take a lot of eﬀ ort – and as the congregation proved, it didn’t need a priest to grow it. But this is a popular service – the largest service to take place in St Michael’s each week. And those who attend have learnt

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CAFÉ CHURCH @ WELSH ST DONATS

St Dunwyd Church sits in the picturesque Cafe Church sessions are of a thematic village of Welsh St Donat’s. It’s population nature based on the Gospel reading for the day is around 500. It runs fairly conventional or a particular festival (examples of these include services for most of the month. Its attendance Harvest (October), Remembrance (November), is relatively low and the age profi le is Christingle and Christmas (December), Palm relatively high. And then once a month, the Sunday (April) and includes practical activities fi rst Sunday, it’s numbers and demographic in which all the congregation can work together change radically. on activities that always involves the writing of prayers (which encourages refl ection): age In the words of the Warden, Siân Evans: appropriate worksheets, craft activities relating to the theme, chatting together over refreshments The future of the Church in Welsh and hymn singing (usually those with which the “ St Donats was very much dependent children are familiar). on developing links with the school and children and adults from the local village community. So, we started Café church to develop those links and encourage and develop intergenerational working with the existing older members of the regular worshipping community and beyond.

So Café Church replaced the usual monthly” lay led Sunday morning service that was taking place every second Sunday of the month. Recently the service has been led by a curate and ordinands from St Padarn’s, but it retains the As could be imagined, the service has had fl exibility that it can be lay led without causing mixed reviews from the older members of the diffi culty. worshipping community, but they too knew that some reinvention was needed to connect with younger generations. And it is working, there is a clear infl ux of children and young families in general to the second Sunday.

But there is nothing diffi cult about what Welsh St Dunwyd’s do. It could happen in every rural context throughout Wales. People sat around tables rather than in rows facing the front so they can talk to each other, higher levels of interaction, a more informal environment, and this is intergenerational. What it did need is Café Church is an opportunity for compromise on the part of the ‘regulars’. But intergenerational worship and provides the through it all there was a commitment to seeing children with the opportunity to become active all ages worship together. It would have been instead of passive participants in the service. the easiest thing in the world to move it to an Café Church includes opportunities for prayer afternoon slot, but by not taking the ‘easy way and reading, refl ecting and talking about the out’ the knock on eff ect is that children and scripture readings. The team (Clergy, Church younger families are beginning to make their Children’s Offi cer and Warden) meet prior to the way to the third Sunday family communion as service to plan. well. Numbers are rising for all services.

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NEW CURATE IN LLAY

An e-mail from a new curate:

Encouraged by the training on how to start a children’s outreach club at our last Newly Licensed Minister residential, I pitched a very ambitious idea to one of the churches I’m serving my curacy in – St Martin’s Llay.

They have really struggled in their ministry to children and have had no real engagement with children for several years. Anyway, we decided to be bold, and put on a whole day of story telling, activities, crafts and a shared lunch to explore the story of Easter.

We did lots of advertising and prayed that God would raise up volunteers. In answer, a woman turned up at our “Start” Course, who had run the play schemes for Norfolk council until last year! She’s become a committed Christian and made today possible, along with 12 other volunteers.

We had over 50 children and several adults for the whole day, and a few older ones drifted in and out. It was incredible! I feel like we’ve dusted the cobwebs oﬀ St Martin’s!

As a result the church have now gone on to run several similar activities and will eventually run a regular children’s event. Sometimes the slightest push is enough.

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STATISTICAL SUMMARY 2018

Membership

Information Table 1: Participation in Parish Life for 2018 and 2017.

% 2018 2017 change

Communicants Easter 46,163 48,986 -6

Penecost 25,576 27,099 -6

Christmas 46,052 48,186 -4

Trinity III 24,982 26,362 -5

Average Attendance - over 18 Sundays 26,110 27,448 -5

Weekdays only 4,243 5,234 -19

Average Attendance - under 18 5,385 5,420 -1

Electoral Roll 42,441 44,875 -5

Baptisms 4,996 5,351 -7

Conﬁ rmations 712 546 30

Weddings 2,223 2,466 -10

Funerals 6,097 6,188 -1

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STATISTICAL SUMMARY 2018

Finances

Information Table 2: Provincial Summary of Parish Finances for 2018 and 2017.

Income 2018 2017 Expenditure 2018 2017 £k £k £k £k

Planned Giving 10,487 10,905 Parish Share 16,395 16,533

Loose Collections 2,829 2,903 Clerics’ Expenses 1,124 1,129

Donations 3,061 3,200 Other Ministry Support 288 301

Maintenance of For Mission 574 563 1,505 1,537 Services General Parish Tax Refunds 2,724 2,814 2,122 2,016 Expenses Maintenance of Legacy Gifts Received 2,490 1,804 5,395 6,054 Churches Maintenance of Grants 3,736 5,046 2,551 2,641 Property Exceptional Property Money Raising 5,014 5,127 4,523 6,216 Expenditure

Fees 2,507 2,487 Parish Grants 814 663

Investments 1,947 1,731 Home/World Grants 943 982

Other Incoming 3,234 4,469 Capital Payments 992 1,217 Resources

Cost of Money Raising 817 612

Total Total 38,606 41,045 37,474 39,907 Income Expenditure

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STATISTICAL SUMMARY 2018

Finances

Information Figure 3: Weekly Direct Giving per Sunday Attender.

£11

£10 £9.77 £9.65 £9.48 £9.44 £9.06 £9.09 £9 £8.73

£8

£7

£6

£5 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Information Figure 4: Parish Expenditure 2018.

Ministry Buildings General 50% 33% 12%

Outreach 5%

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STATISTICAL SUMMARY 2018

How is the Church in Wales funded?

Information Figure 5: How the Church in Wales is Funded 2018.

Investment Income Giving Other Income £20m £23m £19m

REPRESENTATIVE PARISHES BODY

Other Support Support Other Parish Church Support for for Financial Share Property Costs Ministry Dioceses Support £16m £15m £4m £10m £8m £8m

Investment Income Support £1m for DIOCESAN Ministry BOARDS OF FINANCE Other £21m Financial Support £8m

Parishes play a major role in helping to meet (the Block Grant). Members will note that the cost of running the Church in Wales. both the Representative Body and (overall) However, it is important to remind ourselves the dioceses are currently distributing more periodically of how the parishes’ contribution annually than they receive in income. ﬁ ts into the broader provincial picture. The parishes, dioceses and the RB have Information Figure 5 is a diagrammatic other areas of major expenditure also. The representation of the way in which the Church main component in the Representative Body’s in Wales was funded in 2018. Dioceses are “Other Support of Ministry” is the past-service responsible for meeting the cost of clergy element of the Clergy Pension Scheme. “Other stipends. To help them to do so dioceses Finance Support” by parishes includes support receive funds from both the parishes (via for ministry (eg clergy expenses and the cost of parish share) and the Representative Body services) not included in parish share.

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